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Every year, approximately 134,500 Americans learn they have colorectal cancer and nearly 50,000 die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

One risk factor for colorectal cancer is having Crohn’s disease. With Crohn’s disease, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is inflamed. The inflammation mostly affects the lower part of the small intestine, but it can have an impact anywhere along the GI tract, including the colon or large intestine. When the colon or rectum is inflamed, the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases. The longer a person has Crohn’s disease, the greater their risk of developing colorectal cancer.

People who've had Crohn’s disease for more than eight years are advised to have surveillance colonoscopies every year or two, says Edward Loftus, MD, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and former chairman of the immunology, microbiology, and inflammatory bowel diseases division of the American Gastroenterological Association Council.

During a colonoscopy, a doctor uses a flexible scope and camera to look closely at the colon walls. If suspicious polyps are detected, they’re removed during the test. “For patients with long-standing Crohn’s disease, random surveillance biopsies of the colorectal lining also are obtained, looking for dysplasia, or precancerous changes, of the colon,” Dr. Loftus says.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, but it’s much more treatable when it's detected in its earlier stages. In fact, having a colonoscopy can reduce the risk of dying from colorectal cancer by 60 to 70 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

When researchers in Boston analyzed data from more than 6,800 people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — they found that the rate of colorectal cancer was significantly higher in people who had not had a recent colonoscopy. They also found that those who'd had a colonoscopy six months to three years before their cancer diagnosis had a greater chance of survival. The findings were published in July 2014 in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Take Steps to Prevent Colon Cancer When You Have Crohn’s Disease

Here’s what you can do to help prevent colon cancer if you have Crohn’s disease:

Stick with your treatment plan. Even if you feel well, be sure to take your medication as prescribed. “The less bowel inflammation you have, the less likely you are to suffer complications, including dysplasia and cancer,” Loftus says.

Adjust your treatment if necessary. Don’t wait to tell your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms or if your Crohn’s disease symptoms worsen. Your doctor may need to perform tests or adjust your treatment to keep inflammation under control.

Eat anti-inflammatory foods. There's little scientific evidence that an anti-inflammatory diet is beneficial for Crohn’s disease, Loftus says, but if it can reduce inflammation even somewhat, it can’t hurt to try. One small study of 40 people with IBD, which was published in the January 2014 issue of Nutrition Journal, found that those who started an anti-inflammatory diet saw a reduction in their symptoms after one month, including less frequent bowel movements.

Get regular exercise. “Exercise can go a long way in helping people stay healthy and feel better overall,” Loftus says. It may do even more. A study published in November 2013 in the BMJ found that women who were physically active were at lower risk of developing Crohn’s disease than were women who were sedentary. The ACS also says that exercise lowers the risk of developing colon cancer.

Tell your doctor about your family history. If you have close relatives with colorectal cancer, you’re at higher risk. Discuss this with your doctor so you can be monitored properly with appropriate screenings.

Don’t smoke. Smoking can worsen Crohn’s disease symptoms and increase the risk of colon cancer. Some experts believe that smoking interferes with the ability of the intestines to fight disease. Smoking could also cause changes in the body that lead to more inflammation, and more inflammation can lead to abnormal cell growth or cancer.

While the risk of colon cancer is higher for people with Crohn’s disease, developing colorectal cancer isn’t inevitable. If you have Crohn’s disease, stay vigilant with treatment and keep the disease under control to help prevent cancer from developing or to catch it early, when treatment is most successful.